Leith hairdresser blames tram work for giving sign an unwanted trim

Published on Wednesday 24 December 2008 08:53

A HAIRDRESSER has blamed tram works for half of his shop sign falling off.

Part of a wooden sign above Purusha hairdressers on Leith Walk fell off earlier this week and owner Bryan Chapatis insists it is due to movement in the building caused by the roadworks.

He said: "Half my front sign has just fallen off. It has exposed the inside of my shutters – if it rains, the electrics will be ruined.

"The sign just says 'and beauty' now – it is a hairdressers but the hair bit is missing."

Mr Chapatis, who lives with his wife, Linda, in Craigentinny, said it was lucky no-one was hurt when the heavy sign fell to the ground.

He added: "It came down overnight. If someone was under the sign it would have been right through their head."

Purusha hairdressers on the section of Leith Walk between Balfour Street and the Foot of the Walk has reportedly suffered since utility diversion work started outside the salon in January, including a crack along the floor of the salon, cracked tiles, broken windows and now the shop sign falling off. Mr Chapatis believes the damage has been caused by roadworks in the street in preparation for Edinburgh's trams, and has hit out at tram firm TIE for the ongoing problems.

He said: "I have got to do all the running. TIE's insurers say get a joiner out and get a quote – but it's Christmas. I think I am going to have to try and fix it myself somehow."

Owners of the flats above the salon have also reported structural problems. Mr Chapatis said: "There's about 100 things wrong.

"The whole tenement has had subsidence since they started the tram works. The building has dropped about two inches.

"Six weeks ago my window just collapsed. It dropped several inches – you could actually get your hand through the gap."

In April, Mr Chapatis' salon was effectively closed off by tram works, after a trench four feet wide was dug in front of the entrance.

He described the situation as "infuriating" and said that, while he has a loyal customer-base, the problems have affected passing trade.

In March TIE appointed an independent structural engineer to survey the building, with the matter now in the hands of the council-owned firm's insurers.

A spokesman for TIE said: "An independent assessor visited the buildings in Leith Walk that were beside the tram works and assessed the buildings, both inside and out.

"If any property owners believe tram works have caused damage to their building, they should write formally to Mark Hamill, the risk assessor at TIE."

He said that prior to work starting, surveys were carried out on all properties along the line of the route so that any damage could be assessed.